Kohler Company

Bemis Manufacturing Company

Bretford Manufacturing, Inc.

Michael Andrew Niver

Douglas J Brouwer

Chad J Cochart

Michael W Smith

Shawn O Barrett

Paul Bond

Dennis J Dricken

Matt J Alles

A pressure relief cap includes a body engageable with a container and rotatable about an axis to couple or decouple the body from the container, a handle is coupled to the body and rotatable about the axis in a loosening direction and an opposite, tightening direction and, a ring member coupled for co-rotation with the handle in the loosening direction. The cap includes relief valve assembly coupled to the body. The ring member and the body include a lost motion region in which the ring member is rotatable relative to the body in the loosening direction. Rotation of the ring member relative to the body in the loosening direction in the lost motion region opens the relief valve assembly. Rotation of the ring member in the loosening direction beyond the lost motion region causes the body to co-rotate with the ring member in the loosening direction.

Pressure relief cap

A pressure relief cap includes a body engageable with a container and rotatable about an axis for coupling or decoupling the body from the container. The pressure relief cap also includes a handle and a motion control mechanism operable to selectively couple the handle to the body. The motion control mechanism includes a clutch plate moveable between an engaged position in which the clutch plate permits torque transfer from the handle to the body, and a disengaged position in which the clutch plate inhibits torque transfer from the handle to the body. The pressure relief cap also includes a relief valve for releasing pressure in response to elevated pressure within the container.

A service valve for a valve body includes a base rotatable between an open orientation and a closed orientation relative to the valve body. When the base is in the open orientation, the service valve allows fluid flow into the valve body through the service valve. When the base is in the closed orientation, the service valve blocks the fluid flow into the valve body through the service valve. The service valve further includes a tab extending from the base. The tab prevents removal of a cover from the valve body when the base is in the open orientation.

Service valve for a valve body

A testing cap for a valve body includes a base configured to releasably attach to the valve body and to cover an opening in the valve body. The opening is configured to receive a valve cartridge and the base covers the opening in place of the valve cartridge. The testing cap includes a structure extending from the base. The structure is configured to be oriented relative to the valve body in a first orientation and a second orientation. The structure allows fluid to enter the valve body through an inlet port in the valve body and exit the valve body through an outlet port in the valve body when the structure is oriented in the first orientation. The structure covers at least one of the inlet port and the outlet port when the structure is oriented in the second orientation, thereby preventing fluid flow through the valve body.

Testing cap for a valve body

A concentric cartridge for fluid mixing valve includes an inlet adapter configured to receive a first fluid and a second fluid, a pressure balance unit, a volume control plate rotatably coupled to the pressure balance unit and positioned between the inlet adapter and the pressure balance unit, a temperature control plate, and a mixing plate positioned between the pressure balance unit and the temperature control plate. The pressure balance unit and the volume control plate are rotatable relative to the inlet adapter and the temperature control plate is rotatable relative to the mixing plate. The mixing plate has an irregularly shaped opening configured to mix fluids with different temperatures such that the temperature of the mixed fluid increases linearly as a function of angular rotation of a temperature control handle.

Fluid control valve and assembly

A universal valve body includes a front face having a circular opening for receiving a valve cartridge, a rear face, a frustoconical side wall connecting the front face to the rear face, and a first inlet port and a first outlet port obliquely disposed in the frustoconical side wall. A cap for the valve body includes a base and a structure extending from the base. The structure extending from the base may block at least one of the inlet port or outlet port in the valve body. A service valve for a valve body includes a base rotatable between an open orientation and a closed orientation relative to the valve body and a tab extending from the base. When the base is in the open orientation, the tab prevents removal of a cover from the valve body.

Universal valve body

A diverter cartridge for a fluid mixing valve includes an inlet adapter having a first inlet port, a second inlet port, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The cartridge further includes a diverter plate having a first inlet channel and a second inlet channel. The diverter plate is rotatable relative to the inlet adapter between a first end position, a second end position, and a neutral position between the first and second end positions. Rotation of the diverter plate from the neutral position toward the first end position increases a volume flow rate through the cartridge and diverts the fluid to the first outlet port. Rotation of the diverter plate from the neutral position toward the second end position increases a volume flow rate through the cartridge and diverts the fluid to the second outlet port.

Concentric diverter cartridge

A pressure balance unit for a valve assembly includes a first shell having a tongue extending therefrom, a second shell having a groove indented therein, and a sliding element having a shaft defining an axis. The groove in the second shell is configured to receive the tongue from the first shell for aligning the shells. The first and second shells are united using a sonic welding process. The first shell defines a first bore and the second shell defines a second bore. The first and second bores include inlet ports in circumferential faces thereof, the ports defining openings transverse to the axis. The sliding element includes a first end movable along the axis within the first bore and a second end movable along the axis within the second bore. The ends of the sliding element open and close the inlet ports by sliding across the ports.

Pressure balance unit

A diverter valve is disclosed for use in a shower mixer valve or the like. It is constructed to reduce the force needed to be applied by the bather to actuate the diversion. There is a diverter stem that is moveable between a non-diverted and diverted position. The diverter stem includes an upstream portion and a reduced cross sectional waist portion downstream of the upstream portion. The reduced portion interacts with the diverted fluid to reduce the force required to move the diverter stem from the non-diverted to the diverted position.

Diverter valve

Valve control assemblies are disclosed which accommodate out of plumb conditions using a flexible set of rings linked to the temperature control, and a projection/axial slot arrangement linked to the volume control. Different wall thicknesses are accommodated using one or more adaptors/extensions between a temperature bonnet control and a portion of the valve cartridge which controls temperature. There is also a combined shroud/tool for protecting the valve during rough-in and permitting it to be tested.

Valve control assembly

A wall mounted rail system with movable boards comprises a pair of elongate rails. Each rail has an upwardly opening channel defining an upper track and a downwardly opening channel defining a lower track, the rails being horizontally mounted in parallel spaced apart relationship on a wall surface so that one of the rails defines an upper rail and the other rail defines a lower rail. The board is movably mounting to the rails. An upper bracket is secured to a top of the board and has a guide element received in the upper track of the upper rail. A lower bracket is secured to a bottom of the board and has a guide element received in the lower track of the lower rail.

Wall mounted rail system with movable boards

Tables and other mobile furniture used in seminars and training classes are joined by ring connector elements mounted for rotation on each item of furniture. Male and female dovetail connection points on the periphery of each ring are engaged to connect items of furniture.

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, WI, United States of America

Michael Andrew Niver